Red cells carry oxygen throughout the body and are needed for hospital patients who may have experienced a loss of blood due to surgery or a car accident, or a patient suffering from anemia.
Though a whole-blood donation can be used to treat these patients, typically only the red cells are needed. Eligible donors are encouraged to give a double-red cell donation.
A Double Red Cell donation is 2 units of collected red blood cells as opposed to a single unit taken during a whole-blood donation.
A Double Red Cell donation takes about 1.5 hours to complete from registration to canteen.
You can donate every 16 weeks, or 4 months.
Donating double red cells has the greatest impact on the community around you and the patients who need you. While one donation can save up to three lives, oftentimes a single patient will need many donations to survive.
SAVE TIME: A Double Red Cell donation can only be given 3 times per year. If you have a busy schedule and don’t have many days available to donate, this option is perfect for you.
SAVE MORE LIVES: A Double Red Cell donation means you are giving twice the amount of red cells and can save twice the number of lives.
FEEL BETTER: Because the apheresis process returns a saline solution to your body, you finish the donation more hydrated than you started!
Donate double red cells at any LifeStream donor center or participating mobile blood drive and earn 500 points, equal to $50 in Donor Store rewards! Redeem your points for a prepaid virtual Visa, e-gift cards, or LifeStream merch.
To be eligible for a Double Red Cell donation, you must meet the requirements for a whole-blood donation and satisfy the following to ensure the process is safe for you:
On A Participating Mobile Blood Drive:
| MALE | FEMALE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
HEIGHT |
WEIGHT (lb) |
HEIGHT |
WEIGHT (lb) |
|
5’1” |
≥130 |
5’5” |
≥150 |
At A Donor Center: Total blood volume and hematocrit are the added factors; your donor specialist will be able to tell you whether you qualify.
